TSC MOVES ACROSS THE ROAD AND DOWN THE STREET IN CAPE

Tractor Supply Company, the nation's largest retail farm store chain with more than 150 stores in 21 states, held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its newest store last week.

The 18,750-square-foot store at 501 S. Kingshighway in Cape Girardeau is just across the road and down the street from its previous location, which opened in Cape Girardeau a dozen years ago.

"We're looking for bigger things here now," said Glenn Lacy, who has served as manager here the past year. "Cape Girardeau has always been an ideal location for us because it is readily accessible to the farmer as well as the do-it-yourselfer. Year-after-year this store has experienced good sales."

The new store adds more than 7,500 square feet to the local operation.

We're very visible in our new location," said Lacy. "With our new building, we also have a large fenced exterior area for storage and display of such items as fencing, sprayers and livestock equipment."

Attending the special ribbon-cutting last week were city and county officials, Missouri Rep. Mary Kasten, who cut the ribbon, local chamber of commerce officials, and Larry Means of Collierville, Tenn., district TSC manager.

TSC observed its 55th anniversary last year. The company, headquartered in Nashville, Tenn., was founded in 1938 in Chicago by Charles G. Schmidt Sr. as a mail-order tractor parts supplier.

The first tractor parts retail and mail-order store opened in 1939 at Minot, N.D. Sales were $125,000 the first year. Since then, product lines have expanded and annual sales now top the $250 million mark, with the typical store averaging about $1.7 million a year.

The Cape Girardeau store employs 11 persons, including Lacy and sales manager J. R. Wright, who comes to the new store from Flat River, where he worked a year as manager.

Lacy is no stranger to Southeast Missouri. A native of Painton, he attended Southeast Missouri State University.

"Our stores are generally free standing and run between 10,000 to 12,000 square feet," said Means. "This facility is larger, at 18,500 square feet."

Means added that the company had outgrown the old store. Tractor Supply customers range from full-time farmers and hobby farmers to do-it-yourself homeowners and small contractors.

The product line includes farm maintenance items -- tractor parts and accessories, fencing, agriculture spraying and tillage parts -- animal products -- specialty feeds, supplements, veterinary supplies -- and lawn and garden equipment -- tillers, fertilizers, and riding mowers.

AmeriSpec Home Inspection Service, a company that investigates the condition of a home before a real estate transaction is completed, has opened at 891 N. Kingshighway in Cape Girardeau.

"Every home should be professional inspected before a property closes," said Mark Stuart, a partner in the new business with Mark Buerck. "Buying a home should be a happy experience, but sometimes it can turn into a costly horror of expense and trouble."

Stuart added that all parties involved in a real estate transaction can benefit from a comprehensive inspection, which covers the structural elements of a house, roofing, plumbing, foundation, electrical wiring, heating and air conditioning."

Once an AmeriSpec inspection is completed, Stuart and Buerck prepare a computer generated, comprehensive, 8 to 12-page document which details the condition of the home.

"Copies are given to all those involved in a transaction," said Stuart. "If repairs or replacement items are needed, we stay neutral. We never recommend any specific contractor. Our only role is to give an impartial opinion on the home."

Prior to joining AmeriSpec, Stuart was self-employed as a remodeling contractor, and Buerck owned a construction company.

"We feel these experiences provide us with assessment skill that benefit our new business," said Stuart.

"In-Home Pet Care," which offers an alternate choice for pet care during vacations and business trips, has opened at Jackson.

"Pet owners can now leave their household pets in the comfort and familiarity of their own home," said Pamela Lowery, who opened the new business. "We will visit a home on a daily basis to feed, water and care for the pet."

Lowry is a member of the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters and has received training to care for household pets in a "pampered style."

The service also includes taking in the newspaper and mail, and watering house plants.

Additional information is available by calling 243-6868.

Friendship can be golden.

The National Association of Investors Corporation (NAIC) says you and your friends can have a good time, and perhaps a good deal more, by forming an investment club.

The NAIC will send free booklets offering investment tips.

To receive the brochure, write the National Association of Investors Corp., P.O. Box 220, Royal Oak, Mi., 48068.

The Thrifty Inn is out and Pear Tree Inn By Drury is in at Cape Girardeau.

The new sign designating Pear Tree Inn by Drury near the intersection of Interstate 55 and Route K went up last week, representing a new economy lodging concept for Drury Inns Inc.

The Pear Tree Inn by Drury is a conversion from another Drury brand known as Thrifty Inn. In preparation for the conversion, the 79-room hotel has undergone a total renovation, including all new carpet, furnishings and bright new decor package.

The Pear Inn is one of four Drury Inn Inc. hotel operations at Cape Girardeau. Others include the Drury Lodge, Cape Budget Inn and a new Drury Suites, which will open next month.

"We're proud to add the Pear Tree Inn brand to the Cape Girardeau area," said Pete Poe, general manager of Drury Lodge and Pear Tree Inn here.

Drury Inns Inc. owns or operates more than 60 hotels in 11 states.

The company also has confirmed its plans to build a new Drury Inn at Sikeston. Construction will start within 30 days on an 82-room hotel near the intersection of Interstate 55 and U.S. 62.

The new hotel will be adjacent to the existing Drury Inn, which will be converted to Holiday Inn-Express. Both hotels are owned and will be operated by Drury Inns Inc.

The new hotel will employ from 20 to 30 people when it opens for business in early 1995.

Drury staff architect Byron Foust designed the new hotel and Columbia Construction will be general contractor.

Cape La Croix Nursing Home in Cape Girardeau is under new ownership.

The 102-bed skilled nursing facility at 2525 Boutin Drive recently was purchased by Health Facilities Management Corporation of Sikeston.

In announcing the purchase, Don Bedell, president and CEO of the firm, said the facility name will be changed to "Heartland Care and Rehabilitation Center."

"The name change reflects an upgrade in services we will be offering in the future," said Bedell. "We will be providing sub-acute care along with complete physical, speech and occupational therapy. By providing these services it is our goal to continue to move our clients to a fuller, more productive lifestyle as quickly as possible. We will also be working with other clients on an outpatient therapy basis at this facility."

"We are pleased to be associated with Health Facilities Management Corporation," said Mary Jo Hancock, administrator at the facility. "They are a leader in the long term health care industry."

Cape LaCroix Manor Inc. was established in November 1968 as a 120-bed professional extended care facility.

Triangle Wire & Cable Co., headquartered in Lincoln, R.I., a $400 million manufacturer of electrical wire, cable and steel products, has completed financial restructuring to provide for an expanded working capital line of credit.

"The agreement finally puts the financial issues behind us and gives us a strong and stable base upon which to build," said Steve Gerard, Triangle's CEO. "It will allow us to continue our thrust to be our customers' supplier of choice."

Ray Pearman, president of the firm, said the restructuring assures Triangle "the resources it needs to operate at peak efficiency."

Triangle Wire & Cable, which has facilities throughout the U.S. and Canada, employs 194 people at its Sikeston wire manufacturing operation.